PDF won't print? 9 fixes that actually work
Stuck print jobs, blank output, spooler crashes, error codes — PDF printing fails for surprisingly few reasons. Here are the nine fixes that solve almost every case, ordered by how often they work.
No credit card. Files never leave your machine.
The fastest way to do it
Restart the print spooler
Fixes stuck queues. Windows: services.msc → restart Print Spooler. Mac: sudo launchctl kickstart -k system/org.cups.cupsd.
Use 'Print as Image'
In Adobe: Print → Advanced → Print as Image. Bypasses font and transparency bugs that cause blank output.
Try a different renderer
If Acrobat fails, try PrintMultiplePDFs.com (PDF.js engine), Foxit, or your OS preview. Most 'won't print' PDFs print fine in at least one of these.
Why people get stuck doing it manually
- Spooler crashes leave 'stuck' jobs that block everything after.
- Acrobat's error messages are notoriously vague.
- 'Print as Image' setting is buried three menus deep.
- Driver issues only appear after OS updates.
- Reinstalling the printer often helps but feels like overkill.
Platform-specific notes
Windows specifics
Run the Printer troubleshooter (Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Printer). It clears 60% of common print failures.
Mac specifics
Reset the printing system: Right-click any printer in System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Reset printing system. Re-add your printer afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my PDF print blank?+
Usually it's a corrupted font or transparency object. Re-save the PDF as 'Print as Image' in your reader, or run it through PrintMultiplePDFs.com which re-rasterizes problem pages on the fly.
Why does the print spooler keep stopping?+
Spooler crashes on malformed PDF metadata. Restart it (services.msc → Print Spooler on Windows; `sudo cupsctl --debug-logging` on macOS) and re-send through a tool that sanitizes metadata first.
What's error 0x00000bcb?+
Windows can't connect to the print spooler. Restart the Print Spooler service, then re-add the printer. If it persists, run the Printer troubleshooter (Settings → System → Troubleshoot).
Why does Adobe say 'no pages selected'?+
The Print Range field reset to a value outside the document. Click Print, expand Pages, choose 'All', try again.
My PDF prints from one app but not another — why?+
Different renderers handle malformed PDFs differently. Try a different reader, or use PrintMultiplePDFs.com which uses PDF.js and is more forgiving.
Should I update my printer driver?+
Yes, that fixes ~30% of PDF print issues. Especially relevant after Windows feature updates and macOS upgrades.
Related guides
Print your whole stack — in one click.
10 PDFs free. Then $4.99/month or $49/year. Cancel anytime.
Get started free